Cycle-alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. MOL. 8v A. MODONALD.

CYCLE ALARM. NQ. 550,229. Patented Nov. 19,1895.

V(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' R. MCL. 8v A. MGDONALD.

CYCLE ALARM.

No. 550,229. Patented Nov. 19, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MCL. lWICDON-ALD AND ALEXANDER MCDONALD, OF DALMUIR, SCOTLAND; SAID ALEXANDER MCDONALD ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EDVIN PACKARD, OF BROOKLYN, NET YORK.

CYCLE-ALARM.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,229, dated November 19, 1895.

Application tiled April 6, 1895. Serial No. 544,833. (N0 model.)

At present if a cyclist leaves his machine out in the street it is very frequently meddled with and sometimes stolen.

Now the object of this invention is to iit on the cycle an electric bell and shocking-coil arrangement for the purpose of administering a severe electric shock to anyperson meddling with the machine and at the same time sounding an alarm.

In carrying out our invention we fit on the cycle, preferably at the front, an electric battery, inclosed in a suitable case, in connection with which is iitted a shocking-coil. An electric bell is also fitted on the machine.

' The bell and the primary wires of shockingcoil are connected in the same circuit with the battery, and the terminals are carried to either or both of the handle-bars of the cycle, contact being made by means of one or more hidden spring-contacts fitted in the handlebar or by other suitable arrangement.

A suitable switch is provided, whereby the owner can switch on and off the current, as desired.

The device can be carried out in various ways,and it is to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to any specific arrangenient.

On the annexed sheet of drawings we have shown, by way of example, one way of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a plan of a handle-bar of a cycle with our accessories applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 shows in section, to an enlarged scale, one of the handles. Fig. 4iis a plan view of the handle, Fig. Figs. 5 and G are sectional and plan views of a switch. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view tol illustrate the arrangement of the circuits. Y

'a is the handle-bar.

b is the usual pillar supporting the handlebar.

c is a wood or metal case containing a powerful dry cell (Z and a shocking-coil e.

f is an electric bell iitted on the handle-bar.

g are the hollow handles, which may be iitted on the handle-bar by ferrules gt h is a cylindrical block, of wood or otherinsulating material, which is passed through the hole hl in the top of the handle and then secured in place by a cross-pin t', passed through -it and the handle. The block h is provided in its center with a projecting button-switch j, made preferably of insulating material, and which is normally pressed upward by the spiral spring 7c.

Z is a .metal contact-piece fitted in the block lh just below the shank of the button j.

Both handles are alike.

The primary wire l runs from one pole of the kcell d, then to the electric bell j', and from it through a horizontal hole h2 in the block 7L to a metal contact-piece at the bottom of the shank of the button j. (See Fig. 3.) The return-wire 2 runs from the metal contact l, then to the primary coil of the shocking-coil e, and from it to the other pole of the cell cl. A branch wire la, Fig. 2, also runs from the vwire l in the same manner to the contact on the shank of the button j of the other handle, and al return branch wire 2 connects the contact l of this handle to the wire 2. In this manner the button-switches j on both handles are brought into primary circuit. The wire 3 of the secondary coil is led straight to a wire or metal strip terminal m, which is partially embedded in the surface of an insulating coating of rubber or other suitable substance fn, cemented on the exterior of the handle. As will be seen at Figs. 3 and 4, the metal terminal m winds spirally around the handle, and thereby presents a large surface for contact. The other wire 3ad of the secondary coil is led in the same manner to a spiral terminal partially embedded in the insulating coating n on the exterior of the other handle.

o o are small L-shaped switches fittedv on plates p, secured in the ends of the handlebar, as shown at Fig. 3. These switches are properly insulated and are capable of making and breaking the circuit through the primary wires. The full lines, Fig. 3, show the head of the switch in contact with the contact p IOO and the current switched on. The dotted lines show the switch moved out of contact with the piece p and the current therefore switched off.

As will be seen at Fig. 2, the wires 3 3 are led to a switch Q at the bottom of the case c, by means of which the secondary circuit may be closed or broken. The switch, which may he constructed as shown at Figs. 5 and 6, consists of a disk Q, of insulating material, with a spindle or shank Q2, which passes out through the cover Q3 and is provided at its end with a square or triangular recess, in which a similar shaped key can be inserted. The face of the disk Q has a countersunk metal strip Q, provided with two contacts Q4 Q5. The disk is pressed against the backing-plate QG, made of wood or other insulating material, by means of a spiral spring QW. rlhis backing-plate has contacts QT QS, to which the two parts of the wires 3 and 3 are connected. (See Fig. 5.) The construction of the switch is such that when the key is inserted in the recess and turned forty-ive degress the contacts Q4 Q5 will be turned away out of contact with the terminals QT QS and the circuit broken. By turning the key farther round or back again the circuit will be again made. lVhen the disk is turned so as to bring the contacts Q4 Q5 QT Q8 in contact they are pressed tightly against one another by the spring Q10.

As the switches do not form a special feature of our invention, any suitable and wellknown switch can be used.

The whole ar angement is such that after the primary and secondary current have been switched on by the owner by means of the switches o, 0, and Q should any person who is not acquainted with the device catch hold of either of the handles separately he presses down one of the buttons] and at once completes the circuit (by means of the contacts in the block 7L) with the bell, battery, and primary wires of shocking-coil, and thereby causes the bell to ring loudly. The bell being, as it is, in common circuit with the primary wires of the shocking-coil, makes and breaks alternately the circuit through these wires and thereby induces an intense current in the secondary wires of shocking -coil, whose free ends 3 3 are carried to the contacts m on cach handle, so that immediately a person grips both handles simultaneously he brings his hands in contact with the said contacts on and subjects himself to a severe shock.

It will readily be seen from the above description that when any person other than owner of cycle (who of course switches on and olf the current, as desired) touches one or both handles separately the bell will ring, but when both are touched 'simultaneously a severe shock will be administered.

As the shocking-coil can be switched on and off at the will of the owner of the cycle by means of switch Q, he can use the electric bell in the same manner as an ordinary cycle-bell, and ring it, when desired, by means of either switch 0 or o'.

The bell being in common circuit with the primary wires obviates the necessity of using an ordinary contact-breaker.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a cycle, of an electric battery itted thereto, a shocking coil connected with the battery and having its secondary wires connected with the cycle handles and circuit closers carried by said cycle for closing the circuit through the primary wires, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fitted thereto, an electric shocking coil connected with the battery and having its secondary wires leading to the cycle handles, an electric bell arranged in circuit with the primary wires of the shocking coil and serving as a contact breaker, and circuit closers carried by said cycle for closing the circuit through the primary wires, substantially as described.

The combination with a cycle of an electric battery iitted thereto and having circuit wires leading to circuit closers carried by said cycle, a shocking coil connected with the battery, a bell in the primary circuit serving as a circuit closer for the shocking coil, secondary wires leading from the shocking coil to the handles, and means for switching on and off the primary and secondary circuits, substantially as described. l

4L. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fit-ted thereto and having wires leading to circuit closers in the cycle handles, a shocking coil connected with the battery, a bell in the primary circuit serving also as a circuit closer for the shocking coil, secondary wires leading from the coil to the handles, and a press button switch fitted to the cycle handle for switching on and off the primary circuit, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fitted thereto, an electric shocking coil connected with the battery, an electric bell arranged in common circuit with the primary wires of the shocking coil and serving as a contact breaker, and surface contacts fitted in insulating material on the handles to which the free ends of the shocking coil are connected, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Glasgow, Scotland, this 29th day ,of November, A. D. 1894.

ROBERT MCL. llIcDONALD. ALEXANDER MCDONALD. lVitnesses z ll. D. FITZPATRICK, WILLIAM GALL.

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